Chapter 13 - Divine Comedy part 2
Important Content Warning:
If you have existential dread, or thoughts of suicide, or depression in general,
Please skip this chapter.
Island Crater - Zekrom
I stared at the sky, watching the clouds drift. The ache in my body paling before the storm in my head.
I remember such… aches.
The moments when I get closest to the embrace of death.
I remember such aches and… the eventual rejuvenation.
"Hm, it's you is it?" Golden light shone upon me. Gazing at me from above. "How surprising, it seems I've outdone myself." An interested chuckle.
I shook my head hard, as I heard voices. Voices which I thought rang from the deep well of insanity in me. Insanity caused by perpetual existence. An existence which wouldn't hesitate to conjure a reason for its being.
"Kyurem," the light called out to me, "do you remember the end? What did you see?" Everything. A flash. And then nothing. I sat up, my breathing heavy as I came under the assault of my delusions once again.
Delusions…
Or rather…
Are they memories?
I clutched my head hard, digging my claws into my scales.
With no explanation, I have to dismiss these voices as the act of a fatigued mind which sought to explain its pain.
However, if that deity truly lives…
If Arceus truly lives…
"Do you know your purpose, Kyurem?" Arceus' light shone on me. As I lay collapsed on barren land. Molten magma washing the ground, and acid rain pouring from ashen clouds. Not a sign of life anywhere but in me. A vision of the deity flashed before me, his red eyes looking down at me with expectation. "Kyurem. Talk to me. We… We can mourn later." I lay collapsed on the barren land, roaring with anguish that tore my insides. I'm alone. I'm alone. I'm the only one left and…
I'm all alone-
Blast!
A surge of lightning hit me from the sky, filling my body with electricity.
And I lay injured no more. The dent in my stomach disappeared. The cracks upon my back vanished.
The voices in my head lay silenced.
I blinked. Slowly lifting my hand before me, closing and opening my fist.
…
Who is Kyurem?
Why did the light address me as Kyurem?
I pursed my lips, my throat heavy with unease.
And… my purpose? I have a purpose? Or was it Kyurem who did?
…I need answers.
I need the voices to come back.
Sitting up, I slowly crouched upon my knees. Shaking the debris off as I stood up while gazing at the sky.
The voices must come again. They always come again when I'm on the brink of death. A grim smile adorned my face. Hah. So that is where my answers lie? How fitting that they're locked behind a gate I can never cross. Well then, if the reaper guards the answers, then I shall fool the reaper into thinking maybe I'll die this time. My eyes sharpened upon the flying red and white dragon which flew in the air, carrying my pink-haired friend who'd violently swatted me to the ground. I smirked. Such zeal in her fist. And to think that she's a human of all things, for she smells most assuredly like one.
Sakura? Was it?
I want to know what is it that drives you. I grinned, scraping my claws over the scales she'd punched, the explosive pain still a phantom sting upon my stomach. Hahaha. Facing me with your bare fists and not attacking me with pokemon? I chuckled. Utter madness. What are the foundations of your strength? To which school of thought do your beliefs belong? And why do you react to me invoking Arceus' name?
One way or another, I will have my answers.
I crouched and threw myself up, launching myself into the air and flapping my wings to soar towards her.
I grinned in anticipation, excited lightning sparking all over me.
Come, Sakura! My strong fisted friend!
Show me who I truly am!
I roared as I rapidly approached the red dragon, seeing Zoroark slash at the human and dodge her punches.
Sakura growled with frustration, her fingers curled in a hand-sign, "release!" Shatter! "Release!" Shatter! "Release!" Shatter! She ran forward and threw a punch at Zoroark, only for it to phase through the snickering fox. "God! How many illusions did you cast!" She said, swiping at his legs.
Zoroark barked a laugh, stabbing his claws down on the red dragon and gripping onto her as he flipped back to avoid Sakura's leg, "you got a mean punch, sis! No way I'm taking that head on!" He then winked at her with a teasing smirk, "but hey, you can just call me Zoroark, no need to call me God-"
Sakura took a deep breath and-
Splash!
Spat out a fountain of water at Zoroark, splashing him square, making him yelp and immediately huddle down on the dragon as he almost lost his footing.
Zoroark shivered in the wind, his whole fur dripping wet. "…oh my god," he whimpered, giving the smirking Sakura a kicked puppy look, "y-you gave me a bath." He licked himself, whining, "I hate baths!"
"Oh yeah? Serves you right for stabbing me with your claws!/" Said the irate red dragon, Latias. "Hey I know! How about we go for a Dive!" She said with mischief on her face. Zoroark's eyes widened with terror, Sakura frowned in confusion. "Whooo!" Latias cheered in excitement as she abruptly nose-dived towards the ocean.
Zoroark screamed as he latched on to Sakura, his eyes bugged out, "nooo! Not another bath!"
Sakura began sneezing as Zoroark's fur got in her nose, "A-Aaachoo! H-Hey get off me! I can't see what's happening!" She said, crouching and holding onto Latias' neck while trying to lean her head out of the fox's forest of red hair.
I scowled, as I flew to meet the red dragon's trajectory.
Enough of this nonsense.
Krrrr- Blast!
My tail let out a burst of electricity, propelling me to meet Latias head on. I stretched my hand outwards and-
Snatch!
Grabbed a shaking black fox and his hair's sneezing victim. A light zap of my electricity upon Sakura was enough to momentarily paralyze her hands and loosen grip upon Latias, who cheerfully dunked herself into the ocean, none-the-wiser.
I flew in the air towards an island, my wings flapping and each of my arms holding Zoroark, by the scruff of his neck, and Sakura, by the clothes on her back.
Zoroark tentatively opened his eyes, apparently surprised he wasn't a drenched fox by now. After staring wide at the ocean for a few moments and thanking the forest gods, he turned to me with a wide grin and jumped onto my shoulders, throwing his arms around my head.
"Zekrom! Buddy! Brother! Pack-mate!" He rubbed his face on my scales with a grin, "you're a fox's fox, dragon! I love you!"
…I gave him a blank stare. Are you done with your theatrics?
Zoroark grinned, "ya crazy? I'm Zoroark!" He snickered, "I'm never done with my theatrics!"
I sighed. Just… Just keep the red dragon busy. I turned my stare to Sakura, who shone a blue light as she twitched under the hold of the paralysis. I frowned as I observed her light allaying the zap of the paralysis' electricity, the current slowly fading. I glanced at Zoroark. "She seems to have a knack for breaking your illusions. Will I be able to continue talking to her?"
Zoroark smirked, nodding, "don't worry about that, I cast enough illusions around us to keep her busy breaking them for a long time." I frowned, just how many did you cast? He shrugged, "I can't count that high."
Splash!
I turned my head at that splash of water, turning to see Latias zip towards us with a declaration of 'saving Sakura.' I grabbed Zoroark by his scruff, "keep her away." I said before throwing him at Latias.
"Outta my way! Psybeam!" Declared Latias, her eyes glowing as she threw beams of psychic energy at Zoroark from her wings. The fox grinned as the beams hit him but did nothing to impede his flight, as they faded into the darkness of his fur. Latias blinked, "oh, right. You're a dark one- Eep!" She yelped as they slammed into each other, with Zoroark clinging onto her and summoning his shadows from the land below, which latched onto them and began dragging the two of them to the ground. Latias complained, trying to pry herself off the shadow tendrils, "aw come on! I never agreed to be in an R-rated movie! I'm supposed to be kid friendly!"
Zoroark gave her an odd look, sitting on top of her, slowly sinking together as she tried to fly away in vain, "you know, sis? You're kinda wack."
Hmph. Now that that's settled, how about we settle our business. I turned to Sakura with a smirk, only to see my claws holding a log instead, no human in sight. I blinked. What in the-
"Over here, jackass!" I snapped my head to my left, just in time see an angry fist-
Bam!
My cheek exploded with pain as that punch caught me completely unawares. Ahahaha. I grinned through the pain as I flew backwards from the force of the attack. Now that's a nice trick, when did you slip away? I asked her, glancing down to see her accompanying my flight as I'd grabbed her hand the moment I understood my fate.
She glowered at me, cocking her leg up and going, "Praise the Log!"
Bam!
I choked as she stomped my stomach, somehow with enough strength to hurl us down and crash us into the ground. Groaning and holding my insides inside, I returned her glare as I tightened my hold on her arm - which I didn't let go - making her wince. Would you like to know, human? How I find your strength?
"How?" Sakura said, glaring at me and trying to pry my claws off her.
I smirked.
Shocking.
Crack!
"A-Aaaaah!" She screamed as I exploded into a wreath of electricity. Blue blades of current dancing all over us as they continuously stabbed her and reduced her to her knees. I stood up and pushed her to the ground, glaring as I growled into her ears. "I can stop this. Any moment. All you have to do, is surrender."
"G-G-Get fu-" I frowned as she resorted to vulgar verbiage, "-ed y-y-you, sicko! I-I-I'd rather die than t-tell you!" I narrowed my eyes, is a little knowledge worth your life? A bloodthirsty grin erupted on her face, "y-y-you know nothing!" And before I furthered my questioning, she snapped her hand into her pocket and retrieved a piece of red paper, sticking it on my arm. I raised a bemused brow. What is this? Your declaration of war-? My eyes widened as the paper began smoking-
Boom!
"Raaah!" I screamed as that paper exploded, searing my hand with violent heat. Making me immediately cradle it and step back. I roared with rage, "y-you insolent human-!" A fist collided against my jaw-
Bam!
My head snapped back as the attack threw me off my feet, slamming me into the rocky wall behind me. My eyes grew… unfocused.
The golden light spoke.
"Ah. It is you again. How many times has it been?" It dimmed as if in contemplation. "I forget. How many times it has been." Arceus looked at me. "Do you hate me, Kyurem?" …Why? I glared at him. Why do you do this? He smiled ruefully, "because I must." Then… Then please spare me. I shook my head, as faces, lives, cries flashed in my mind. Please spare me this, Arceus. He grew silent and turned away. "I… I can't. Forgive me." …Why? My jaw clenched with rage. What does that mean? "You… You are the only one who understands, Kyurem." He vanished, leaving me alone in the meadow.
Burst!
Lightning struck me from the skies.
No!
I cursed. Growling as my injuries vanished. My head snapping back upright. Blast it! I exploded with electricity, exploding the rocky wall holding me. Answers! I need answers! Blast! I stormed towards the girl, who lay panting on the ground, her eyes widening upon seeing me soar for her. "Kill me! Do it again!" I roared, gathering electricity in my claws. "I must know the truth!"
Sakura hastily stood up, putting her arms in a guard, "w-what the hell are you!" She yelled, "I broke your jaw! I felt it!" Her arm glowed blue as she jumped over my swipe and threw her fist down at me, "stay down!"
Bam!
Crash!
She hit my back, burying me into the ground as I struck it face first. My head exploding with pain.
"You remember now, don't you?" The air was warm, the White Dragon looking down at me from her perch on the cliff. I remember? What is there to remember but despair? I chuckled at her, lying on my back, staring at the clouds with vacant eyes. Reshiram flew and landed beside me, staring down at me with dispassionate eyes. "What are you doing?" …Me? Haha. I'm not doing anything, White Dragon. "What? No more ideas to conjure up and confuse everyone?" I let out an empty laugh. Why bother? It is all meaningless, Reshiram. Forever, is meaningless. She gazed at me with narrowed eyes, kicking me lightly, "get up. Fight me. Our feud is not settled." I turned away, ignoring her. Go to hell, Reshiram. You kept this from me. You knew all along, while I'd forgotten. I glanced at her with a sharp smile. Makes me wonder. Are you the keeper of truth? Or the gate-keeper of truth? Hahaha. It's funny. I looked away as I stared at the sky. Seeing faces, hearing cries, and burning to death in an ending world. A world which no longer existed. But a me which still exists. Ahahaha. What's the point of it all? I give up, Reshiram. You win. I don't want to think anymore. Don't want to think of what I lost. I just want to… rest. Hopefully, we will end this time. May the end of the world claim us all.
She scowled and turned away. "That is optimistic." I blinked, slowly getting up looking at her with a puzzled face. Hoping for the end of everything is optimistic? She glared at me, "what do you think, Zekrom?" …No. Please tell me you're lying. "…" I sprang to my feet and grabbed her, roaring in her face. Speak, White Dragon! What more do you conceal! Give me the truth! Reshiram scoffed, pushing me back and freeing herself, "forget it, Zekrom. You can't handle the truth. Consider this a mercy." I growled at her. You call this a mercy! She looked behind her, closing her eyes. "Uxie, if you will." I blinked, as a small floating creature with two tails, a yellow head with a red jewel in her forehead, closed eyes and a blue-grey body floated from behind Reshiram, pointing her hand at me. …What is the creature of Knowledge doing here-
Uxie snapped her eyes open, and spoke softly,
"Begone, thought."
I collapsed to my knees, blinking with confusion and… what was I doing?
Reshiram turned away, "don't remember, Zekrom." She flapped her arms and flew up with Uxie, "at least one of us should look forward to tomorrow." She glanced at me, a silent roar which floated towards me, "hope for the both of us, Black Dragon."
Blast!
Lightning struck me from the clouds. My eyes snapped open as the fog cleared.
…
This?
My arms trembled as I pushed myself up.
This is the truth?
My hand slipped and I fell back down. Shuddering with…
Desolation.
…
I understand now.
I understand completely, who the Black Dragon is.
…He will live.
He will live past the end of the world.
He has lived past the ends of worlds.
He… He is older than Time.
He existed before Space.
He came before everything.
And he will come after everything.
…And the worst revelation of all?
He is me.
…
Laughter began rocking my chest, as I dragged my claws down my face.
Hahaha…
I-It's worse than I imagined…
Hahahaha…
B-Beyond my wildest nightmares…
Ahahahahaha…
Forever? F-Forget forever. I am beyond forever! I-It holds no meaning to me!
I threw my head back and laughed.
Ahahahahaaaa!
Point!
No point!
Ahahahaha!
No point to anything!
Ehehehehe!
My vision spun as delirious chortles left my mouth, as I stomped my foot down and stood up with dangling arms, flapping my wings and slowly rising in the air. I tilted my head, my mouth twisting with lunacy. As I eyed the sky, the ground, the ocean, and the life. Amazing! How amazingly pointless! Hehehehe! My electricity flared around me.
Spark!
Let's end it!
Spark!
Let's end it all!
Spark!
Ahahahaha!
I roared my heartfelt declaration to the world!
"I-I! Zekrom! Will end it all! Today! H-Hehehe!" I smiled, flapping my wings and flying up the air. Raising my hand and gathering as big a ball of electricity as I could.
Crack!
Crack!
The storm clouds began gathering, darkening the skies. Assaulting my hand with lightning, charging me and helping me bring about the end.
Pokemon began gathering around. The land creatures poking out of their island burrows, the water denizens fretfully swimming away, the birds screeching and hurrying for shelter away from the electricity flying in the air. Saddened by their fear, I roared out my assurance.
"W-Worry not, my friends! I-It is all a farce! H-Hahaha! Life is a farce! And I will tear apart its veil on this day!" I put a hand on my chest. "I-It is a joke! A divine comedy! Hehehehe! We live and die, and live and die, and live and die!" I shook my head, an ear-to-ear grin on me. "We! Are created! Only to be destroyed! Then I ask you, what is the end goal? When there is no definite end! Creation won't end! Destruction won't end! Then, my friends! Is it not all a waste of everyone's time! Ahahahaha!" I raised both my arms to contain the electric ball above me, which grew bigger than the island beneath me. "And so I! Will deliver you! From the curse called existence-"
A feminine voice screeched beside me,
"Shut the hell up, you psycho!"
Bam!
My head snapped to the side as a fist collided into my face once again. H-Hehehe! I spread my wings apart and halted in the air, the punch having blown me away, robbing my focus and sadly dispersing my electro-ball into nothing. I rubbed my chin, grinned at the girl who landed on a cliff and stared at me with a vehement glare.
I called out to her, "you may leave, my strong-fisted friend." I dismissed her with a wave of my hand, "I have gained everything I need," I grinned, "for your assistance, I will dedicate my apocalypse in your honor."
Sakura frowned, "what is wrong with you? Just, just what did you gain that you're trying to kill everyone?" Hahaha! Despair! I have gained despair! She blinked, a focused glare on her face. "Elaborate." Oh? Interested in my misery are you? Splendid! Let me share my sorrow! Listen carefully!
I spread my hands out with a wide smile. "See, human! The world you see before you is not the first world which was created! It is but one of the worlds which has existed since the dawn of existence!" I thumped my chest, laughing, "and then there is me! A creature who isn't destroyed when the world is destroyed! Y-You must have observed it, correct? I can shrug off the worst you can throw at me, human! Hah!" I covered my face, laughing at the hilarity of it all, "I am Zekrom! The Black Dragon! And Arceus cursed me to live forever in his cycles of Creation and Destruction! I. Am. Forevermore!"
Sakura's eyes had widened, as she whispered, "h-he already did it?" She gulped, "y-you're lying. Arceus really can't end the world, can he?" Hehehe! Stick around, girl! And maybe you'll find out! She shook her head hard, glaring at me, "you're just insane!" Oh? Then by all means. Save me from myself. She blinked, a thoughtful look in her eyes, "do you really want to die? I'm asking as a doctor." Nothing would make me happier. But enough of wishful thinking, hehe, I will stick to what is within my reach. I raised my hand once again to the clouds, charging up an electro-ball. For now, all I wish is to grant the world what I will never have.
Oblivion.
Sakura's eyes narrowed, "I won't let you."
I grinned.
Then come, my learned friend.
Let us dance and herald the end!
Ahahahaha!
Middle of the ocean - Island cliff - Sakura
He's insane. He has to be insane.
I glared at the dragon flying in the air and laughing deliriously to himself.
The world was already destroyed and remade? T-That's not possible, right? I-It can't be possible.
H-How am I supposed to stop someone who can make and unmake an entire world?
I-It has to be a lie! I won't believe it!
I can't let myself believe it!
"H-Hahahahaha!"
I grimaced as I saw Zekrom hold his face, his body heaving with laughter which hurt to watch.
I-I'll be reduced to that if I believe what he told me. H-Hahah. D-Despair. I can't go there. I-I need to have strength. Need to have hope.
Even if it means denying the truth.
I steeled my nerves and studied the dragon, as he flew in the air before me. I need to sedate him. He's out of control, lost his senses. The erratic flashes of electricity around him suggest that he's lashing out, as if he's been driven into a corner. Which means he'll be even more dangerous than before, when he at least seemed to show restraint. He could have easily killed a few people back in the studio to intimidate me, but he resorted to illusions and subterfuge. But now that's gone. His crazed eyes don't show me reason anymore, only anguish.
I had hit him with enough force to break a boulder, smash a building, crack a mountain. But he got up again. With no apparent lasting damage. He'd lie there, battered, and then he springs back up as lightning blasts him from the skies. He claims that he can't die. That he will survive the end of the world… No, let's stick to sedating him. I'll worry about other things later. In any case, I don't want to kill him when he hasn't killed anyone yet. I narrowed my eyes. I won't let him kill anyone. Not when he asked me to save him, even if he was just mocking me.
I… I need to save him.
Red eyes danced with madness as he eyed me like a lamb before the slaughter.
"You need to die, Sakura. Hahaha. A cleansing. A great cleaning by my blade." His eyes lost to tragedies which blinded him from rage. Which deafened him to our pleas. "Konoha will flow with blood. The Uchiha must be avenged." My words didn't reach him. Why would they? They were mere platitudes. Forget the past? Look at the future? Be happy? I grimaced. How could I ask him to come back and live in a village which ordered the death of his family? He'd die every day every second on the inside for him to bear with something like that.
As a friend, I lost him. As a teammate, I failed him. And as a doctor, I wrote him off as a lost cause. That he came back to assist us in the war was a miracle in and of itself, but I had no hand in that, and that makes me feel like I failed all over again.
So I won't let it happen again. I won't see another person or dragon lose themselves to madness before me, won't let them be driven to the edge by the cruel world before me. Not when I'm around.
He found it in himself to come back from the depths of hatred to try and right the wrongs of the world, albeit by a plan of assassinating its leaders followed by rampant oppression. He went from a pure hunt for revenge to a mission of peace. From looking at the past to thinking of tomorrow. If he, a man dealt one of the worst possible hands by fate, can crawl back up from the mire, I would fail as a doctor if I can't do the same for others.
I grit my teeth as I eyed Zekrom.
I'm not going to lose another patient. A wry grin occupied my face. Not when I still have to repay his angelic deed of stopping all the dick jokes around me.
Crouching down, I gathered chakra in my feet, counting myself lucky that Zekrom flew low to the ground as he charged up his ball of electricity, eyeing me with a grin and looking at me with eyes that stretched with instability. And just as I leapt for him-
"Catch," Zekrom chuckled.
Fling!
He flung the big sparking ball at me.
Okay, guess I'll be dodging then.
I quickly jumped down the cliff and began running down its side-
Blast!
A burst of lightning erupted before me and Zekrom lay waiting along my path with a smirk, his claws charged with electricity.
Well, if this is how you wanna do it. I gathered chakra in my hands and ran towards him at full speed. Just gotta jump over-
Slash!
I leapt over his hand which burst forward and buried itself in the cliff side-
And then to let him have it! I threw my hand down-!
Zekrom smirked, whispering, "do I seem that easy?" His eyes flashed, his free claws stiffened, "thunderwave!" A surge of lightning erupted out of him, making me bite my scream as it ran over me. But I went through with my attack, blasting him away will end his assault soon enough! My fist made contact-!
Pat!
…
H-Huh?
Zekrom's smirk widened, as he still flew before me, ending his shock-wave and grabbing me by my shirt, eyeing me with curious eyes, "what's this, human? Where has your stalwart strength disappeared to?" W-What? I released my chakra! I hit you! How are you still flying! He gave a fake shocked face, "you hit me? I confess, it felt more like a love tap." He glared, "are you going soft on me, human-?" I roared as I gathered my chakra and threw another punch at his face as he got closer- He gave me a sharp smile, flashing for a second with electricity-
Bzzt!
Pat!
…my hand landed yet again so gently upon his hard scales.
I stared up at Zekrom, my eyes widening as I understood what he did.
Y-You…
"Hm? Figured it out, have you?" You're disrupting my chakra. The split second before I made contact, your electricity disrupted my chakra flow. Zekrom bared his teeth in a sharp smile, "it made me curious, why you resorted to your paper explosion when you could have just hit me away. Was she aiming for variety I'd thought, but no, why waste ammunition when you have a perfectly good punch. And that's when it struck me," sinister chuckles left his mouth, "what if she can't use her strength when being electrocuted. And now, I've confirmed just how a little electricity at the right moment is enough to turn a juggernaut into a mouse. Now where does that leave the two of us, human? For I am a dragon overflowing with disruptive electricity." I gulped. Ooh shit. Zekrom nodded, smirking, "to put it colloquially, my good friend, you - Sakura - are quite thoroughly screwed."
…W-Whatever happened to love and peace? Do we really have to fight?
Zekrom laughed, "how the weak's morality espouses peace when they are powerless. While the strong's drive powers them to ravage us all. Truly, Arceus has outdone himself in his self-massacring creation." He shook his head, "my friend, let us do away with his rules and reject this deplorable hell." His face hardened as I understood that he's not going to budge. Zekrom hissed, "yes, there's no other way. Time to die!"
Spark! Bam!
His electricity coated fist flashed and buried itself into my stomach, making me choke as it knocked my breath out, my teeth clattering as my body shook while being electrocuted. Zekrom's face hardened into a snarl, as he raised his fists, "you're mine!"
Wham!
My whole side exploded in pain as he slammed me down with his fists, throwing me straight down towards the ocean. I winced as I cradled my arm and flew down. A-At least he let go of me-
Spark!
Zekrom thundered, his tail roaring as he shone a violent blue, his eyes staring at me with menace, and dangerous blue electricity coursing all over him as he declared, the dark thunderclouds thickening above him and flashing white,
"Behold my Fusion Bolt! Raaah!"
Zekrom raised his hand and threw it at me, and a huge column of lightning hit Zekrom, magnified in size, and then exploded towards me-
Crack!
My scream cut off as the current ran rampant in my body, as it covered me from head to toe with electricity which struck and passed through me. My chakra not listening as I tried to drag it out, the invasive current disrupting any attempt to do so. I curled into myself, using what meager chakra which listened to me to move my body to cradle itself close, to minimize the burns which seared my skin-
Splash!
I fell into the ocean. And the lightning vanished, broken by the surface of the water.
My entire body flared with agony, my limbs twitching erratically as my nerves lay scrambled, my clothes burnt with holes in them, second degrees burns where the current hit and spread down my body.
Regaining control of my chakra, I slowly moved it away from protecting my nerves and arteries, which I'd done right before the lightning struck me, saving them from major damage and eruption. I blearily opened my eyes, seeing myself sink down the water, a pressure upon my lungs as I managed to hold my breath in.
R-Right, need to surface, quickly.
Feeling my nervous system, I gently began pushing my chakra into it, bringing the erratic current which paralyzed my body under control, letting my now grimace in pain as I turned in the water and began kicking my feet, my hands pawing the water down with as much force as I could muster. The regenerative waves of the Mystical Palm spread over my body, I focused it upon myself, making me grit my teeth as I focused on killing the bacteria, inflaming my skin, destroying the damaged cells, and then closing it up.
Splash!
I gasped for air as I broke the surface of the water, paddling myself towards the island right beside me and grabbing onto it. Coughing and taking huge gulps of air, and pushing my hands down and dragging myself onto the land. My hair dripping, my entire body soaked, as I knelt and put my palms on myself, to focus on closing up my injuries.
"Hmm, not bad." My eyes narrowed as I slowly looked up to see the Dragon standing a few ways away, looking at me with satisfaction. Zekrom smirked as he spread his claws, "back for more I see-"
Body Flicker!
Poof!
I flickered right behind him, my fist soared for the back of his head-
Bzzt!
…Nooo. I growled as a wave of weak current slapped me.
Pat!
Again!
I made a hand-seal and-
Poof!
I appeared to the side of his tail, slamming my fist down at it-
Bzzt!
Tap!
Zekrom turned back and raised a brow at me, "I know you're faster than me. Do you think me foolish enough to let my guard down-?" Shut up! I snatched an explosive tag from my pouch and flung it at his tail!
Tsh!
It fizzled and smoked, but no explosion came. Looking closer I cursed as I saw that it was half burnt with puncture tears in it. Damn it! It got destroyed in the lightning - guh! I heaved as his winged fist lashed out and struck me, covering me head to toe and bashing me against his hard scales- Blast! His tail exploded with electricity, blasting us forward-
Crash!
We crashed into a boulder, his hand digging me inside it. He glared at me as he hissed, "come on, retaliate." He grabbed me and threw me hard into the air, roaring, "let me feed on your hope! Give me the life I do not have!" He raised his hands flashing with blue electricity, "Descend, my Fusion Bolt!" My heart stopped. My eyes widened as I craned my head to the sky, seeing the deadly sparks flash in the clouds. N-No, not again-
Crack!
I shut my eyes and snapped my limbs close, hurriedly layering myself in a coat of chakra which I hope will protect me-
"Sakura!" I heard a shrill yell followed by a blast of wind.
Blast!
Lightning burst down from the sky-
"A-Aaaah!" Hearing the scream right above me, I opened my eyes in shock to see Latias covering me from above, the bolt of lightning hitting her instead, as her eyes glowed blue, my body shining a similar color as she seemed to hold me in the air while keeping me out of the electricity's reach. A few painful moments of seeing her being electrocuted later, it thankfully stopped, the lightning cutting off. Latias panted in the air, her body smoking a sooty black. She gave me a small smile, trying not to wince, "s-sorry I took so long. That fox didn't know how to take a no." She flew under me and dropped me on her back, turning a livid glare at Zekrom. I immediately put my hands on her and applied the Mystical Palm upon her, trying to heal whatever damage I could.
"I'll teach you not to mess with me," Latias growled at the black dragon, opening her mouth and a pulsating ball of purple energy forming before it. "Dragon Pulse!" She yelled out, and just as she did, all the chakra I'd been using on her got sucked away from my Mystical Palm and towards her mouth. The ball of energy grew three times bigger, and-
Blast!
"Oh snap! That's huge!" She sounded surprised, looking at the beam of energy that flowed out her mouth, which seemed to be wide enough to cover Zekrom whole. I quickly explained to her that her Dragon Pulse got a boost from my own energy. Latias blinked and then grinned, "heck yeah! Power of friendship for the win!" Oi, focus, the dragon's still standing.
Zekrom looked at the incoming beam with a worried face, his voice anxious, "oh goodness, such formidable strength, what incredible power, and that heart-warming teamwork. How o how will Zekrom face this unity of spirits?" Keel over and die. Zekrom smirked, "perhaps he should respect this resolve and meet the pulse of friendship head on?" My eyes narrowed, what's with his confidence- Zekrom crouched and-
Blast!
Kicked off the ground and flew straight into the purple beam-
"W-What?!" Latias and I gaped as he flew straight through it, utterly unimpeded as the beam struck and covered his body all over, but not appearing to do any damage he soared towards us. L-Latias, move it! Get us away! "H-Huh?" She blinked, still in disbelief at how her attack was being shrugged off-
Burst!
"Why, hello there," Zekrom burst out of the beam right before us, his head followed by his chest rising out of the beam being emitted out of Latias' mouth. He smiled kindly, pointing his clawed hand towards us, "and a Happy Dragon Pulse to you too." A ball of purple energy formed in his claws and-
Blast!
"A-Aaaah!"
Latias and I screamed as he unleashed that beam point-blank, striking the both of us and swatting us out of the air. Latias' eyes struggled to remain open, her mouth biting my shirt, holding onto me as she tried to move her wings to regain her flight-
Zekrom roared!
"Fusion Bolt!"
Crack!
Latias' eyes widened and she quickly flung me away towards the land-
Blast!
I stared with horrified eyes as the lightning struck Latias, her mouth opening in a scream but no sound coming out, Zekrom staring down at her with a baleful scowl. I feebly reached out to her, as I fell from the sky, my heart sinking with fear as I could do nothing to stop her from being tortured-
"Graaah!"
I snapped my head to the sound and saw Zekrom flying straight at me, blue current bursting out his tail and his leg raised to strike me- oh shit-!
"Guuh!"
A yell of pain left my mouth, as he stomped me down with his foot, slamming me and propelling us both down to the ground-
Crash!
"A-Aaaaaah!"
I screamed, his entire weight falling on me, a ton of pressure digging my body into the ground, my body roaring with agony as I tried to shield it from being broken-
Zekrom flapped his wings, rising up and-
Crash!
Crack!
.
.
.
My chakra dissipated. Breaking along with my ribs, as he jumped on me again, putting his entire mass on me with his foot. My hands fell limp, my legs didn't seem to move, my mouth wanted to scream but I didn't have the air in me to do it, only enough breath for choked whimpers.
Zekrom gave me a repulsed glare, looking away and growling. "So this is what you mean by not letting me destroy the world? What a laugh." He flapped his wings, his tail roaring with electricity as he rose up the air. He spat with contempt, "this world deserves to die if its hopes are as feeble as yours."
His voice became crazed, as he laughed, floating up the air, standing atop a cliff.
Zekrom threw his head to the sky, lightning cracking from above as he roared.
"I am the Great Destroyer! The taker of life!"
Crack!
Columns of electricity struck from above, continuous beams of crackling current which began scarring the land and boiling the ocean into steam.
Zekrom beat his chest.
"I am the one who decides who lives and who dies! No being shall be tortured with life by my decree!"
Crack!
The ground began shaking, the skies began swirling, and the ocean began shrieking.
Zekrom's eyes glowed red with hatred as he gazed down at the world.
"It is my will that everyone on this planet be annihilated!"
.
.
.
I-I…
I can't move my body. I grit my teeth and tried to push myself up, my ribs prodded my chest and I hissed as I fell back down. Through the corner of my eye I saw Zekrom, roaring at the sky, lightning blasting down from the clouds like a harbinger of death. Rocks, boulders, breaking into dust, ravaged by electricity which lashed out like hundred pronged whips. I could hear scared whines in the burrows of the island, terrified trills from the bushes, frantic splashes in the ocean. Animals running away from the eye of the storm if they could, hiding with fear if they couldn't. I winced, trying to direct my chakra to my ribs to try and mend them, biting my lips through the pain…
Pain…
God… God damn it…
Life is…
Such a pain.
I-If I were dead, I wouldn't have to go through this.
A bird let out a feeble chirp, hopping for shelter.
I-If it was never alive, it wouldn't have to be afraid of dying.
In the corner of my eye, I saw an injured monkey fall from a tree, holding its shoulder, screeching at the dragon with helpless shrieks.
I-If it was never alive, i-it wouldn't have to wonder why things had to be this way.
Crack!
I let out a helpless chuckle. My hair standing on end as a lightning bolt blasted the ground a few inches away from my head.
If I were never alive, I-I wouldn't be indebted to fate, for all the blessings and curses it sends my way. I wouldn't have been a ninja, I wouldn't have been my master's student, I wouldn't have sleepless nights about traitors, I wouldn't smile as I eat ramen with an idiot. But that is all me being a puppet. Led around by the danger of life, by the hopes of my mind, by the terrors of my nightmares.
Maybe… Maybe he's right…
Life is a farce…
Haha, maybe I should just let him kill me… And then Arceus can destroy my home… And then nobody would have to die ever again… No more stupid wars… No more human sacrifices… No more killing…
I stared at the dark clouds with dull eyes.
Why?
Why should I care if the world bites it?
Why should I care whether it exists or not?
What is it that makes the world worth saving?
What great things will be achieved by prolonging this life?
Friends? Please, they'll all stab you in the back the moment you go rogue. Maybe not Naruto and Ino, but they're an exception.
Family? I never asked to be born, never asked to be introduced to a world which goes to war at the drop of a hat. I love my family, but I'm crushed and broken in a hole on an unnamed island in the middle of the ocean because mom and dad couldn't wait to get in each other's pants… so thanks, I guess.
The inherent goodness of mankind? I felt a giggle bubble up my chest which burst painfully as it poked my broken bones and made me wince. But still, hah. Now that is a joke. Really though, everyone thinks they're the good guy.
So what am I now?
Am I good if I stop Zekrom and be responsible for all the pain and hurt and torture that will befall all those who are born?
Am I bad if I stop Zekrom and become the reason for all the joys and loves and laughs blooming into the world and making it shine brighter than before?
I chuckled.
Haah.
What is life?
What is death?
Why am I alive?
What does it mean to exist?
What does existence mean?
Is existence worth it?
Who decides its worth?
What worth is worthy?
When does life become worthless?
Why do I have to go through so much pain…
I don't want to be responsible for my friends and family dying… I don't want to face creatures which can break me in two… Don't w-want to ch-choose between one world or another, one life for another… W-Why…
If this is what was going to happen…
Then why give me a life that is forced to choose?
Why give any of us life if you're just going to torture us till death and then rip it away?
…
I don't know…
Maybe Zekrom should make the choice for me.
Just kill us all and be done with it.
I smiled lightly.
It's… It's comforting.
The thought of ending and not having to deal with all this. No wonder it's driving him to madness. To be alive with no hope of ever letting go of all your worries, problems and despairs. At least death would put an end to them, but life? Life will torment you with ever more problems, ever newer worries, ever endless despairs.
So…
Why bother?
Let's just die and be at peace…
Forever.
…
…
…
But…
Things worth living for…
A day's good research… A patient's grateful smile… Dissing Ino's stupid fashion…
Things that give me life…
Petting a happy dog as it licks your face… Cracking a good joke and grinning as others laugh… Writing that secret man on man romance thriller which you giggle at as you write but would die of embarrassment if anyone ever found it…
I let out a little chuckle.
If I were dead, I wouldn't have those things… Things which I think are worth existing. Things which will exist if and only if I exist. For they come into being because of me. I give them life, and they give me life in turn. They give life to my life, if that makes sense.
Life is a pain. Yeah, nothing's going to change that. It might even be a farce, I don't know that. They exist though… The things which make me want tomorrow to come… Things which I want to do which make my heart beat in excitement…
Teaching the kids all I know and turning them into adorable mini-mes… Taking a stab at freeing pokemon from being pocket monsters and helping them become summons… Kicking Arceus in the nuts…
Yeah…
I smiled.
Some things are worth being alive for.
And I want to do those things before I die. And that makes my life worth something. Because it's my life which will let me do that. What's the worth of a drop in an ocean, and what is its worth in a desert? In the ocean, it's next to worthless, in the desert, it might as well be gold.
I stared at Zekrom, roaring himself mad, his own electricity which seemed to want to kill him, razing and tearing his scales which wouldn't stay torn. His ocean of life not letting him die. Anything he does is next to worthless to himself, because nothing he ever does will have a price. Nothing he ever does will have any meaning, because he has the freedom to do whatever he wants. And that's meaningless.
I understand…
I understand you, Zekrom.
And I am sorry.
I stared at him with a mix between pity, anger and determination.
I will kill you, Zekrom.
I will kill you.
That is my prescription for your illness.
I can't let you kill me, Zekrom. Even if it means that nobody would have to suffer ever again, I can't let you kill me. Because there are things which I want to live for, which make the burden of breathing worth it for me. And if someone doesn't have those lights in their life, then I will help them find it, it is my duty as a doctor to ease your suffering. But I can't do that if you kill us all, Zekrom. We're all going to die anyway, so it's all the same at the end of the day, whether we die today or a hundred years from now. However… the things which we can make when we are alive will all be lost if we're not alive to make them. I don't know about anyone else, but I want to know what's the ending of my steamy romance story before I croak it.
Gritting my teeth, I tried moving my hands again, but they wouldn't obey, merely trembling and falling down. …Okay then. If my hands won't move- I gathered chakra in the tips of my fingers- Then I'll have to move my body instead! I tapped the ground under my palms and unleashed my chakra-
Boom!
I bit down a yell as the chakra exploded and flung me up the air, my body shooting up like a ragdoll and my broken ribs scraping against my insides. Using my chakra, I formed a mesh between my two hands and quickly tightened it, to pull my flailing palms together and slap against one another in the Tiger seal. I muttered, as chakra surged inside me under my command, "C-Creation Rebirth."
T-Tsssh!
Steam-like vapor rose off me, as my chakra rapidly burned through all the damaged cells in my body, stitching up my torn muscles, replacing my damaged nerves, inflaming and remaking my burnt skin. Regaining control of my hands as my cells rapidly divided to recreate my body, I pursed my lips, putting my hands on chest, lay my fingers on my ribs and-
Crack!
Ah fu- Arrgh!
I growled down my scream as I set my ribs correct, clenching my teeth through the pain. But pain is fine, in order for my technique to heal my ribs correctly and not force me to break them again so that they close up right.
Thud!
I landed on my feet, crouching down with satisfaction that I didn't collapse under my own weight. After touching myself with the Mystical Palm for a few moments, I quickly cut my Creation Rebirth, judging myself to be healed enough, and also that I don't have the chakra to keep it powered through a battle of attrition. I scowled, whatever I do, I need to do it in a quick, short burst. And Creation Rebirth would eat up my chakra way too fast for me to focus on attacking.
Attacking…
I glared at the roaring Black Dragon, too lost in his madness to notice that I'm up.
I can take him by surprise and land one good punch on him… But will that be enough? If he gets up and uses his electricity to disrupt me again, I don't think I'll get up after he's done with me.
…Tch.
If only I had a ranged projectile as strong as my punches… And then I can let loose a blast in his face and debilitate him…
Blast… Blast…
Like a… Focus Blast?
I blinked.
…huh, I guess I owe Hilbert one.
I opened my palm before me, summoning up my chakra to gather in the center and-
Bwing!
A round pink ball the size of my head popped out of my palm and floated above it. I frowned. But will it obey-
Zoom!
Yeah, no, forget it. I scowled at it as it decided to roll up my shoulder and hang out beside my head. This bloody thing will betray me at the last second and get me killed. I'll have to think of something else…
And also, what if Zekrom's cloak of electricity explodes it before it reaches him.
…
…
…Cloak.
What if a cloak dissipates Zekrom's electricity from hitting me…
Yes…
That… That might work…
I gripped my fists to my waist and took a deep breath.
Well…
Only one way to find out.
I closed my eyes in focus.
My chakra spinning all around me, wrapping itself around me. I exhaled, more and more of the energy gathering inside, getting heavier and heavier, being inflated with more and more concentrated energy until-
Boom!
Whissssh!
A shockwave exploded around me, my eyes snapping open and seeing the pink blades of energy rising up my body, my teeth gritting in pain as it felt like being stabbed by a hundred needles all at once, as my chakra was greedily consumed. Holes haphazardly appearing and closing in the cloak of energy which flickered with instability. The supply of chakra not meeting the demand. I growled, cursing not for the first time that the chakra in my forehead's seal was completely depleted from the war, the meager reserves in it already burned up through this battle. I need more chakra. More chakra than my body can safely provide…
I put my hand on my head, covering my scalp. I never did this before… I sighed. Hopefully this won't kill me…
I lifted my palm, gathering chakra in my fingers, ready to break open my body's limiters.
Gate of Opening… Release!
I slapped my head and injected chakra to blow open the gate-
Surge!
My coils flooded with chakra, the cloak gobbled it up and-
BOOM!
Disintegrating Island - Cliff top - Zekrom
BOOM!
A wave of hot air hit me, slamming against me and snapping my mouth shut as it pushed me back. I growled. Who dares delay the inevitable. I slammed my foot down and ascended back to the top of the cliff, looking down to find the abhorrent perpetrator-… What's this?
A pink flame surged at the foot of the hill. A tightly knit shroud of solid energy. Soaring up from the feet to the tip of the head. Green eyes glaring at me with a mouth set in a savage snarl, teeth borne at me with determination. Sakura the Human looked at me with contempt that sparked the electricity on my hands anew.
I smirked down at her, roaring over the explosions of thunder. "Well, well, still clinging to life I see." I raised my hand, willing it to burst with electricity reaching up to the clouds, hoping to intimidate her. She paid it no heed, her stare at me resolute, her hands tightly gripped at her sides. My face twisted with a growl as the moments ticked on and she failed to show any comprehension of her fate. "Fine then, I'll put you out of your misery, graah-!" I roared and snapped my hand down-
Clap!
I grunted with surprise as my hand stopped mid-descent. I blinked and turned to my side to see a hand holding my arm back, a hand awash with pink energy which radiated hot against my scales.
"Stop this, Zekrom."
I turned further to the source of that voice, glancing behind me to see the human holding my wing to stand atop my back, her other hand holding my hand which struggled to snap down, restrained by the grip upon it.
Sakura glared, her voice tight and clipped as she spoke.
"You're angry. You're lost. I get it. But lashing out at others won't solve anything." Her gaze cut into me with irritating resolve. "It won't give you what you want."
I snatched my hand back with a growl, throwing my claws at her and making her jump back and land on the cliff. "The time has come for judgment to be passed! The good will die and the wicked shall survive!" I charged electricity into my fist and let it fly at her, roaring, "no more shall the righteous live in an unjust world! Torment dies on this day!"
Thud!
My fist stopped against the flat of her palm, my electricity snaking all over her but her gaze remained unfazed, the pink shroud denying the blue sparks entry upon herself. Sakura nodded, her arm outstretched, "alright then. I will give you a lifeline." She gave me a grim smile, "I will kill you."
…
"I will kill you, Zekrom."
…
"I will end you."
…
"Do you understand, Zekrom? Your days are numbered."
…you dare.
"You will perish."
…you dare mock my fate.
"I will find a way, Zekrom."
…you dare dangle before me hope.
"I will help you rest in peace, Zekrom."
…d-don't.
"We will give meaning to your days."
…s-stop it.
"Your every breath will have a price. Your every moment will become precious."
…I-I cannot die …that is the truth.
Sakura smiled, the warm assurance in her smile making me gasp as I stepped back, unwilling to let it ensnare me in its grasp. I reached within me and desperately tore apart what it suggested. What it promised.
"I won't give up on you, Zekrom. If the truth means that you won't die," she put her palms atop my fist, pressing it firm with conviction, Sakura smiled, "then let's reject the truth."
Truth…
Truth… Truth… Truth…
Truth-Truth-Truth-Truth-Truth-Truth-
Truth!
A-Ahahaha!
I slapped my face as my insides burst with wild laughter.
Rejecting the truth?
Rejecting the truth?
Ahahahaha!
Rejecting the will of Arceus?
W-What madness!
Sakura tilted her head, leaning closer as if whispering a secret, "personally, I think he's a dick." She shrugged, "if truth is what Arceus says it is, then I'd rather live a lie."
Graaaah!
I roared and summoned a lightning bolt from the sky! And she disappeared in a puff of smoke, escaping from the blast and appearing some distance away.
She spoke with a disappointed frown, "are you that scared, Zekrom? You're that scared of Arceus-?"
Crack!
I roared, hurling electricity at her, "hold your tongue, you little wisp of a girl!" I blasted forward and threw a fist soaked in electricity at her, which she plainly blocked against her palm. "You dream big! Such outrageous dreams!" I snarled in her face, "you cannot even face me and you think you can defy a god! What use is defiance before a being that can unmake the world! What good are ideals before a being to which they hold no meaning!" I growled, "it is useless, a useless endeavor. To find meaning in a meaningless world, it is beyond useless." I glared at her. "Accept the truth."
She glared back. "Never."
This… This unwavering grit in her eyes… This foolish hope… I shook my head and growled at her, my fists exploding with electricity, "I will break these foolish dreams."
Sakura crouched and adopted a fighting stance, her eyes narrowed in determination, "I will give you hope." Shut up. "I will drive away that fear." Cease your nonsense. "I will defy Arceus." Her green eyes shone, her pink flame blazed, "And Zekrom? I will kill you." SI… SILENCE!
Poof!
Bam!
I choked as a cloud of smoke burst before me and a fist suddenly buried itself in my stomach, expelling all the air within me. I immediately grabbed her, wreathing her with electricity to arrest her strength-
Slap!
She slapped my hands away, with such force that my arms flew apart. She jumped, cocking her fist back, the pink energy around her hand growing darker in color and-
Boom!
My face exploded as she let loose her fist against me, her pink shroud bursting out as a beam, the force throwing me down the cliff and into the air-
My eyes caught her jumping off after me, her leg raised high to slam down upon me.
I immediately threw my hands up, calling down my lightning!
Fusion Bolt!
Crack-!
She twisted in the air and snapped her leg against the bolt-
CRACK!
Boom!
Did… Did she kick my lightning away?
My jaw hung in disbelief, as I saw the descending bolt hit her leg and then veer completely to the side and hit a stray boulder-
Bam!
I choked again as a merciless foot buried itself into my stomach. Sakura giving me vengeful smirk as she lifted her foot again, her leg flowing with darkening pink energy-
Boom!
Thud!
The shroud exploded as she stomped me down, instantly crashing me against the ground and burying me inside. My wings shifting, and my body sparking with electricity which tried to mend the broken and ruptured scales. I blinked through blurred vision, trying to spot her- Is she descending with her foot-?
Bam!
I choked yet again, as I heaved against the force with which she slammed down on my mid-section.
Sakura glared down at me, "had enough?" She crouched and got right in my face, "truth is, you can't do shit against me." She smirked as I glowered, "look at the big strong dragon, reduced to a coughing wreck by a widdle girly. Truth is, you're all talk, no bite. Scared of a god who doesn't give a crap about us." I growled. Sakura's lips pursed, "so, choice is yours. Are you going to accept this? Or will you defy your fate?"
…defiance hm? A chuckle rose out of me. As I stared at the girl, so assured in her words. I let out a weak grin as I held my stomach, "Reshiram would hate you, girl." And the opposite is true for me. I looked up at the sky. Reaching out a hand towards the clouds, "the heart wills it, but the mind rebels." I smiled at her, "I want to defy a god, but my knowledge of his power arrests me. His power to preserve me forever arrests me." Sakura narrowed her eyes, asking what was more important, ignoring the truth and standing tall with hope, or facing the facts and shriveling in fear. Hah! "I love it." I laughed yet again, grinning at her, "you, girl. You're too much." I summoned down my lightning! "Fusion Bolt!"
Her eyes widened and she immediately jumped off me-
Crack!
Boom!
The lightning hit the ground and exploded, throwing up dust and rocks, the girl landed safely away, her eyes searching for me through the cloud of dirt.
I gazed down at her from the sky, as I'd blasted myself up the moment the lightning struck the ground, an electro ball the size of the island held atop my hand pointed to the sky, as lightning blasted into the ball, feeding it with electricity. I spoke to the girl with a grin,
"You do not play with your prey, girl." Her eyes widened and she snapped her head up, her face paling as she saw what I held in my hand. "It's been an honor clashing wills against you, but I remain unconvinced. That fate writ by a god can be defied." I sighed and shook my head, "farewell, Sakura. I will remember you." I growled hurling my electro ball down, "now die with the rest of this world!"
Hurl!
My ball raced towards the ground, crackling with whips of electricity and it surged to neutralize the land. Wind blasting away as it kicked up a storm, the lightning blasting into the ball and feeding it continuously.
Poof!
Sakura appeared atop a hill, right under the ball as it impacted, throwing her hands up at it-!
Bam!
"Uurrgh!"
She yelled with effort, catching the ball in her hands, her face gritting with effort as she tried to push it back. The ball the size of an island dropping upon a girl the size of a needle. Her palms glowing and surging with her pink shroud, the only hindrance to her deliverance.
Whoooosh!
I sneered down at her through the harsh wind that blew. "Give up, human! Absolute truth cannot be defied!" I threw my hand out. "Nothing can survive absolution! None can overcome the tyranny of existence!"
She yelled, roaring over the cracks of rocks flying in the air, torn open by the assault of electricity on the land. "I can't accept it!" She screamed, as her foothold broke, slowly digging her deeper into the rock, "I won't accept it!" Crack! The ground crumbled, the rock vaporizing, and the ball dug into the land, the girl disappearing into the ground as it buried her, her scream mixing with the wail of the land.
My hands clenched hard, my shoulders shaking, my chest heaving as I stared down. Yes. This is what it is. The consequence of defying destiny. Of rejecting the truth-
Her yell rang out-
"Gate of Rest! Release!"
Boom!
A layer of pink erupted under the ball.
I stared. No…
She yelled again-
"G-Gate of Life! Release!"
Boom!
The ball stopped its descent and jerked to a halt, it began slowly ascending.
My eyes widened.
No. No. No!
Sakura yelled.
"Focus Blast! Haaaaa!"
Blast!
The bottom of the electro ball exploded up with a continuous pink beam of energy, rapidly pushing it up and right toward me-
C-Curses!
Bam!
A-Aaaaah!
I roared as the ball submerged me within itself, tearing at my scales as I floated within it. I snarled, throwing my hands out. This proves nothing! Nothing! I will explode this ball and escape! And the moment I do-
A dark chuckle echoed in my head. Slithering between my ears.
"Now why would you waste a perfectly good present for our maker?" My eyes widened! Giratina! The snake rumbled with sinister amusement, "give me the pleasure of delivering it."
Vanish!
I blinked and stared at myself as I became transparent to the world, my electro ball phasing through me and spitting me out. I glanced behind me to see a black hole open in the sky and suck up the electro ball followed by a curious voice echoing from it, one which thrummed with the power over life and death. One which sounded like the maker.
Golden light shone out of the hole.
"Hm, what's this-?"
BOOOOM!
I winced as the electro ball exploded. Sending a few stray sparks out the hole.
"…W-Who dares attack me-!" He roared with indignation, his divine censure cutting off as the hole in the sky immediately closed.
Giratina's amused hiss sounded, as he whispered in my ear.
"Don't be so quick to dismiss yourself, Eternal Dragon. For hope is a beautiful thing." I growled, why do you care, snake. His throaty laughs grated my nerves, as he hissed with menace, "I will enjoy watching you suffer."
And then the shadows between my ears disappeared. Vanishing along with the feeling of sinking into darkness.
All that remained was the beam of pink energy still heading for me…
I stared dully at its advance.
…I'm going to choke the life out of that snake-
Boom!
I grit my teeth as the beam swallowed me, burning my scales and vaporizing them. Charring me blacker than black and pushing me up the sky.
And then the beam cut off. I fell limply through the air, the lightning striking my body and making me anew, but all the life in me spent.
Thud!
I faintly registered myself falling back on land. My hands spread and my face in a grimace. My consciousness leaving me as I considered what just occurred.
Arceus…
We had defied Arceus…
He had writ that I be overcome with despair…
But the girl and the snake writ that we kick despair back, and electrocute Arceus…
Pat!
I stared down to look at the girl who jumped atop me, terrible gasps of air leaving her as she clutched her heart, her skin inflamed red, and her pink energy cutting off. As she slapped her body with decisive strikes, and cut off her energy and along with returning herself to her pale skin.
Sakura muttered, coughing blood and wiping her mouth, "h-how's that for not accepting it." She collapsed to her knees, holding onto my shoulder to sit upright, "s-still think I can't k-kill you?"
I closed my eyes.
…Fine.
"No, I don't." My body smoked, disappearing little by little as my mind receded into my orb. Retreating for the damage upon me proved far too much to sustain myself. I gave her a begrudging smile, raising a hand to gently pat her head, "my death is yours." I laughed as my face disappeared, "I will hold you to your promise, Sakura."
And then I vanished.
My mind shutting close to the world in a slumber that bordered on waking.
A slumber which only Reshiram could ever evoke in me.
Haha…
I wish… to see…
Your defiance of fate…
Sakura…
The Bringer of Hope.
Atop Zekrom - Sakura
I fell to the ground as soon as Zekrom disappeared, vanishing into a black ball.
My bones lay broken, my blood vessels ruptured, my head pounding with blood flooding it.
My eyes wide as I hyperventilated, I tried to push myself up to put my hands on me, to try something, anything to keep myself from dying.
My vision blurred and I fell down again. Biting a scream as I felt my organ being prodded by broken bones. And then my vision cut off, seeing an orange blur in the sky right before it did. And I dully noted that I'd stopped breathing.
I tried to move my hands, to try and beat my chest to get my heart pumping…
They didn't move…
My thoughts… began slowing down…
My chakra not listening to me… Depleted so much that there was nothing for me to control…
I cursed myself… Master will… Kill me if she found out… what I did…
Opening the gates…?
I'm such an… idiot…
My eyes rolled up…
.
.
.
"…you know, I could just let you die and save myself a whole lot of trouble, Harbinger."
.
.
.
"But Latias told me how awesome you were and protected her from that electro ball! Man! We could see it all the way from Liberty Island! How did you do that!"
.
.
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"I'm gonna kick myself later for doing this but… You saved my friend. Haha, so I'll save you."
Surge!
My eyes shot open as chakra suddenly flooded me, I coughed harshly, as my heart began beating again. Blinking through pained eyes, I blearily turned my head and saw a small creature with big orange ears, light brownish fur, and an impish grin on its face as it sat on my chest. I managed to mutter as I felt myself blacking out again, "w-who are… you?" He giggled, jumping up, making me choke as he stepped on a rib, and posed. My eyes rolled up again because of the pain.
"The name's Victini! And don't ya forget it!"
.
.
.
"Come on! Say something! Don't ruin my heroic rescue!"
.
.
.
"Uh… Y-You're still alive right?"
.
.
.
"Oh crap! Latiaaas! Help! I think I killed her!"
.
.
.
I groaned at his shrill and panicking voice in my head, as he ran crying for Latias.
Oh god, why won't he shut up.
Can't a girl lick her wounds in peace?
Author's Note:
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